Exercise on Reading the Psalms

Let's first look at some poems by William Blake: The
Lamb and The
Tyger. What makes these "poems"? How might these be similar or
different to the Psalms in the Bible?

Look over this
Introduction to the Psalms (DOC [Right click to save to your own computer and then
print] or PDF) to get some background.

Using the Introduction sheet, find what kind of psalm 23
is.

Now read Psalm 23 using these
versions of Psalm 23. (DOC / PDF) If you have a favorite version, compare that as well.
For a somewhat more literal (i.e., close to the Hebrew) read this version of Psalm 23.
Also check out the Bible Gateway
and do a parallel passage search. (HERE
are the Message, NLT, and CEV in parallel.)
By comparing the various translations, what questions about the text are raised
for you? What differences strike you as interesting or significant?

Return your focus to the NRSV. Within the psalm, what examples of parallelism do you note?

What is the logic of the psalm? How do you get from a sheep
in a pasture to an honored guest at a table?

Watch the references to God and the pronouns used.

What echoes of other biblical texts do you hear?

Trace the images of movement or positioning. (lie down,
lead, walk, ...) How do these function in the psalm?

As a further help, you may want to check out this Bible
study I composed as part of a series on the Psalms. This study also serves as a
good example of the kind of Bible study you might produce as part of your final
integrative project. Psalm2.23.pdf